Blue-print developing and drying machine.



W. M. HARRIS.

BLUE PRINT DEVELOPING AND DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1913.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

IVITNESSES- W3 ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAIIH :0. WASHINGTON. n c.

. HARRIS.

BLUE PRINT DEVELOPING AND DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-17,19I3.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- mm IIIIIII m w WITNESSES.

ATT RNEY' COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0. WASHINGTON, n. c.

WILLIAM M. HARRIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BLUE-PRINT nnvnnornve AND DRYING MACHINE.

Application filed February 17, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blue- Print Developing and Drying Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a machine for washing or developing prints, such as blue prints, films, or the like, and to such a machine that will also dry the prints.

The invention has among the objects thereof to provide a device whereby prints may be easily and efficiently washed or developed; to provide a structure whereby washing or developing may be properly accomplished without skill upon the part of the operator; to produce a machine in which the print as it passes therethrough not only is Washed or developed, but is also dried.

Other objects of the invention will more fully hereinafter appear.

The invention resides in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts as herein described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is an elevation partly in sectlon of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation taken in a direction opposite to Fig. 1; Fig. a is a perspectlve view of the foraminous drum surface; and Fig. 5 illustrates a detail construction.

A designates the frame of the machine and B a movable member therein with which the prints are adapted to be engaged. I/Vhile the prints are in engagement with the movable member they are treated by the liquid employed for washing or developing and then are carried by the traveling member to the point or station at which they are to be removed or discharged. Preferably before the prints are discharged from the carriage they are subjected to a drying operation.

In the preferred form of the invention the trayeling carriage B comprises as shown, a 1101 end ofthe drum as 'Cis closed while the opposite end D extends inward, forming a. chamber E and is provided with a circular Specification of Letters Patent.

ow rotary drum-having the curved sur face or periphery thereofforaminous. One

Patented-Aug.17, 1915.

Serial N 0. 748,822.

opening F concentric with the drum. Ar ranged at the opening F is a fan or blower G driven by an electric motor H which is positioned within the chamber E and has the shaft thereof in alinement with the axis of the drum.

I is a support rigidly connected to the frame and to which the motor is secured.

The drum is provided adjacent opposite ends thereof with annular flanges J which engage roller bearings K suitably mounted in brackets L upon the frame. Any desirable means may be provided for rotating the drum, but in the construction herein shown the drum is driven from the motor H by means of a step-down drive. Thus, one of the roller bearings as M is provided with a friction surface N and the shaft 0 of this bearing has an extension P which carries a worm gear Q.

R is a shaft journaled in a bearing S and T is a worm on this shaft meshing with the gear Q. Fixed respectively to the motor shaft and the worm shaft are pulleys U and V which are connected by a belt WV.

Extending longitudinally of the drum at one side thereof and carried by arms X projecting outwardly from the frame is a table Y which has the lower or inner edge Z thereof in immediate proximity to the cylindrical surface of the drum, as shown in Fig. 2. A longitudinallyextending liquidsupply pipe A is also carried by the arms X and is positioned beneath but only a slight distance below the bottom face B at the table Y. This pipe is provided with a plurality of openings C positioned to discharge or spray the liquid against the bottom face of the table in the direction of the drum. The table, therefore, forms a deflector for the liquid. The lower portion of this table is downwardly inclined and as the edge Z is in immediate proximity to the cylindrical surface of the drum a thin film of liquid will be discharged or deflected from the table onto the drum or the print carried thereby. Upon opposite sides of the frame is a second spray pipe D and a downwardly inclined deflector E for causing a thin film of liquid to flow across the print from the opposite direction. Preferably the pipes A and D are connected by a conduit D which is controlled by a valve E When the machine is employed for washing blue prints the conduit D may be attached directly to the water supply, but if a developing liquid is to be used this conduit may lead to a storage tank. Below the drum is positioned a receptacle or pan for collecting the liquid as it discharges from the drum, the pan having a suitable drainage opening, not shown.

As shown in Fig. 2 the'drum has a portion of its peripheral surface exposed. In use when the motor is started the supply valve will be operated and the drum slowly revolved in the direction of the arrow. Since the fan is constructed to draw air from within the drum, a suction will be created therein, and because of the foraminous surface the prints when laid flat upon the periphery of the drum will beheld in contact therewith by the suction. The prints are fed to the exposed peripheral portion of the drum with the face to be washed or developed outward, and as the drum carries the print past the deflector or table Y a thin but uniform film of liquid will be discharged onto the print. The latter will be subjected .to the liquid discharging from the conduit A until the print reaches the lowermost point of travel of the drum. From then on it is subjected to the liquid from the pipe I). The print is carried by the drum around to the starting point, where it is removed by the operator. If desired, a scraper as G or the like may be employed for detaching the print from the carrier.

Beyond the deflector E is a drier, herein shown as comprising a hood H positioned in close proximity to the drum and extending from adjacent the deflector E across the top of the frame.

I is a gas burner carried by the arms J which support the deflector E and positioned to be within the lower end K of the hood. Preferably the drum is of a size to permit several prints to be simultaneously in engagement therewith, since this increases the out-put of the machine. However, the capacity of the carrier may be varied as desired.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The word print is employed as covering not only prints photographed from drawings or negatives, but also the negatives, such as films or the like.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier, of suction means for securing a print thereto, and means for causing a thin film of liquid to flow over the print while the latter is in engagement with the carrier.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier,

of vacuum creating means for securing a print thereto, and means for causing thin films of liquid to flow over the print from opposite directions while the print is in engagement with the carrier.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier, of suction means for holding a print in engagement with the carrier, and means for subjecting the print while in engagement with the carrier to a liquid.

at. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow traveling carrier, of suction means associated with said carrier for securing a print thereto, and means for subjecting the print while in engagement with the carrier to a liquid.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow traveling carrier having a foraminous surface with which a print is adapted to be engaged, means for producing a suction within said hollow carrier whereby the print is secured to said surface, and means for subjecting said print while in engagement with said surface to a liquid.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow rotary carrier, of suction means for securing a print thereto, and means for subjecting the print while in engagement with the carrier to a liquid.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cylindrical rotary carrier, of suction means for securing a print to the cylindrical surface thereof, and means for subjecting the print when in engage ment with said surface to a liquid.

-8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cylindrical member, of suction producing means for securing a print to the periphery thereof, and means for causing a thin film of liquid to flow over the print while in engagement with said periphery.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow rotary carrier having a foraminous surface, of means for producing a suction within said carrier to hold the prints in engagement therewith, and means for causing a liquid to flow over said prints while in engagement with said surface.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow rotary drum having a foraminous surface and having one end closed, a fan associated with the opposite end of said drum and adapted to create a suction therein, and a spraying device associated with said drum.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow rotary drum havlng a foraminous surface, suction means associated with said drum, and spraying pipes positioned upon opposite sides of the drum and arranged to direct streams over a portion of the drum and in opposite directins.

12. In a machine of the class described,

, the combination with a hollow rotary drum having a foraminous surface, of means for producing a suction within said drum including a motor, a drive connection between the motor and the drum, and a spraying device associated with the drum.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow rotary drum having a foraminous surface, of means for producing a suction within said drum ineluding a motor, a step-down drive connection between the motor and the drum, and a spraying device associated with the drum. 14. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a hollow rotary drum having a foraminous surface, one end of said drum being closed and the other provided with an opening, a suction fan arranged in said opening, a motor for driving said fan, the latter and the motor shaft having their axes in alinement with the axis of the drum, and means for driving said drum from said motor.

15.In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a hollow rotary drum having a forami nous surface, one end of the drum being closed and the other end having a cylindrical opening therein concentric with the drum, a suction fan arranged in said opening, a motor for driving said fan, and a step-down drive train between the motor and the drum.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary carrier, liquid spraying means associated with said carrier, and means for removing a print from said traveling carrier.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary carrier for prints, means for subjecting the prints while in engagement with the carrier to a liquid, of a hood arranged over said traveling carrier, and means on said hood for disengagingsaid prints from the traveling carrier. c 7 18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating carrier to which prints are adapted to be secured, and a hood arranged in proximity to the traveling carrier.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary drum, of suction means for securing prints to the surface of said drum, means for causing a liquid to flow over the prints while in engage ment with the drum for a portion only of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner the travel of said drum, and a hood arranged in proximity to the rotary drum and beyond the liquid means.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary carrier, liquid spraying means associated with said carrier, of a hood arranged in proximity to the rotary carrier, and a scraper at the lower end of said hood for disengaging a print from said traveling carrier.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier for prints and the like, of means for causing thin films of liquid to flow over a print from opposite directions while the print is in engagement with the traveling carrier.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier for prints and the like, of means for directing streams of liquid over a print from opposite directions while the print is in engagement with the carrier.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a traveling carrier, of means for directing separate streams of liquid over a print in the general direction of travel of the print while in engagement with the carrier and in the opposite direction.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow traveling carrier for prints and the like, said carrier having a foraminous surface, of means for exhausting air from the interior of the carrier and liquid treating means associated with the carrier.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carrier for prints and the like, said carrier comprising a drum having a foraminous print supporting surface of a fan arranged at one end of the drum to exhaust air from the interior thereof, and liquid treating means associated with the said carrier.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hollow traveling carrier for prints and the like, said carrier comprising a drum having a foraminous print supporting surface, the drum being closed at one end, of suction means in communication with the interior of the drum at the other end thereof, and liquid treating means associated with the said carrier.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. M. HARRIS.

of Patents,

Washington, .D. G. 

